Israel is on the threshold of a new era. Until now, we have been celebrating like reckless children, slaves to our egos, and we have caused a lot of damage. That time is over. Operation Guardian of the Walls marked its end, and the emergence of a new government is the inauguration of a new period. It is time to sober up. In my eyes, this period should be about one thing: recognition of evil—the realization of all that is wrong with us and why we cannot stop the downhill slide.
Our country is in a shameful state. The whole world is mocking us; we have become its laughingstock. Everyone hates us, no one wants to recognize our right to live here, and all they want is to use our intellect and technological abilities as much as they can, but no one wants to be near us.
This pitiful state can be a springboard for positive change, if we are brave enough to make it, but it can also escalate into complete alienation where the whole world unites against us. The only thing that can prevent this horrifying scenario is our own unity. If we unite, the world will unite around us; if we remain scornful toward each other, the world will unite against us.
A new government marks the beginning of the new state, but we mustn’t think that this state has anything to do with technology or policy. The beginning of the new state must show the beginning of unity among us. On the current trajectory, the world will turn against us so intensely that we will not want to stay here but we will have nowhere to run; we will not be permitted to go anywhere.
We have no choice but to start building a new spirit in this country, a spirit of unity above all our differences, as it is written, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you” (Ezek. 36:26). With a spirit of unity and with a caring heart, we must begin to build a new country.
Photo Caption:
United Arab List party leader Mansour Abbas, Yamina party leader Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid, sit together in Ramat Gan